The white-hot event, held Sunday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, also featured Hollywood's A-list, from Michael Keaton to Sylvester Stallone to Jane Fonda, as well as iconic musicians like Herbie Hancock, Carly Simon and Barry Manilow.

Members of Earth, Wind & Fire had the night's most memorable moment when they honored bandmate Maurice White, who died on Feb. 4.

"Right now we'd like to pay tribute to the visionary who we lost last week, the man with whom none of this would be possible, Mr. Maurice White," Philip Bailey said onstage.

Beck, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear and Krist Novoselic kicked off the event in tribute to David Bowie with a performance of "The Man Who Sold the World."

"This is for two geniuses who are no longer with us," Beck said onstage.

Melissa Etheridge followed with "Take It to the Limit" in honor of Glenn Frey. Irving Azoff, who manages the Eagles and received the President's Merit Award, grew emotional onstage and cried when he told stories about Frey.